Patching to begin on eastern Hanover roads

WESTERN BUREAU:

The need for potable water and properly paved roads dominated complaints from residents at an Hanover Eastern community Development Fund (CDF) constituency consultation on Tuesday at Bethel Primary School in Hopewell.

Concerns flowed almost in unison, with nearly every resident raising the same two issues: water and roads. Little else seemed to matter.

Some relief came when Member of Parliament for Hanover Eastern, Andrea Purkiss, announced that a road-patching programme has begun along the coastal main road, stretching from Kew Bridge at the western end of the constituency to Great River at the eastern boundary.

Representatives of the National Water Commission also attempted to address long-standing frustrations, particularly regarding irregular water supply and discrepancies in billing.

In an interview with The Gleaner, Purkiss described the meeting as beneficial, noting that residents used the opportunity to voice concerns that affect their daily lives.

“Some of the challenges that we are faced with, especially roads, it is important that the constituents understand how the MP can help in the fixing of a road,” she stated.

Providing further details on the patching works, Purkiss explained that repairs have started along the coastal road between Kew Bridge and Great River, and similar work is expected to begin soon on two additional roadways.

“That road (Kew Bridge to Great River) has also been approved under the SPARK programme, but the patching will be happening now,” she said.

She noted that Hurricane Melissa worsened many already damaged roads across the constituency, and she is lobbying for support to address them.

“Across the constituency, there are roads that were badly damaged from before Melissa, and got worse after the hurricane, so what I would love to see is the patching extended across the constituency,” she added.

Purkiss said work has started – or will shortly begin – on three key routes: the Kew Bridge to Great River main road, the Shettlewood main road and Bamboo Drive in the Hopewell area.

Reflecting on her first CDF consultation as member of parliament, Purkiss described the atmosphere as highly engaging and said attendees now have a clearer understanding of how the CDF can be utilised and what can be achieved through the funding.

It was explained that under the CDF, each MP is allocated $20 million annually, with specified amounts earmarked for particular areas.

Purkiss called for a reassessment of road conditions and the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, along with renewed allocations for the hardest-hit communities.

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